The Ducks have signed goaltender Kevin Boyle to a two-year, two-way contract extension through the 2019-20 season. Per club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

June 2003 would turn out to be a seminal month for the Anaheim Ducks, a major crossroads in the growth of a franchise that would ultimately emerge into a perennial championship contender and ultimately a Stanley Cup champion.

To be drafted in the NHL is a moment frozen in time, the culmination of years of hard work and determination to achieve a goal so many dream of, but only a select few go on to experience. And while the NHL Draft is a memorable time, the range of emotions these young men go through is real.

As the 2018 edition nears, we asked a handful of Ducks to recall their experiences at the draft and the days leading up to it. Their recollections will be part of a feature series leading up to this year's draft on June 22-23 in Dallas.

Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler entered the 2010 NHL Draft in LA as the fifth ranked North American skater - the second highest-rated defenseman. In front of him were defenseman Erik Gudbranson (No. 4), right wing (and recent Stanley Cup champion) Brett Connolly (No. 3), left wing Taylor Hall (No. 2) and center Tyler Seguin (No. 1). A product of the U.S. National Team Development Program, Fowler concluded a Memorial Cup-winning season with the Ontario Hockey League's Windsor Spitfires. He ranked seventh among OHL defensemen in scoring (55 points, 8g/47a) and added 14 points (3g/11a) in 19 playoff games.

With the 2018 NHL Draft coming up next week (June 22-12 in Dallas, Texas), NHL.com is breaking down the top prospects by position. This installment features centers. [Keep up-to-date with the Ducks as the 2018 NHL Draft nears.]

By Mike G. Morreale / NHL.com Staff Writer

There's a strong chance that for the first time in 16 years, a top prospect listed at center by NHL Central Scouting will not be chosen among the top five picks in the NHL Draft.

"It's just the way the cycle goes sometimes, but everybody is looking for the big center too, so it's interesting when you look at how teams are trying to build," said Troy Dumville of NHL Central Scouting. "At the end of the day, teams are going to draft the best players available. I think it could come down to preference on draft day, so it's about what teams are looking for and that's the fun part about the draft. It's pretty wide open from what I've been hearing from different teams and what they're looking for."

The last time a player listed at center was not among the top five selections of the draft was in 2002, when Joffrey Lupul was taken by the Anaheim Ducks with the No. 7 pick.

Here are NHL.com's top 10 centers available for the 2018 draft:

The mix of emotions a player goes through during the NHL Draft have been well-documented over the years.

Look no further than Ducks prospect Antoine Morand, one of two players the club selected in the second round last year. Tears flowed down his face. The emotion was real. The dream became a reality. His best friend, left wing Max Comtois, had been chosen by Anaheim 10 picks earlier.

On the flip side, Cam Fowler's face during the first round of the 2010 NHL Draft said it all. Expected by many to be taken within the top five, Fowler's demeanor changed when someone else's name was called with every passing pick. He would fall no lower than 12th, however, when the Ducks snatched him up, and he has gone on to become a cornerstone for this franchise.

As the 2018 edition nears, we asked a handful of Ducks to recall their experiences at the draft and the days leading up to it. Their recollections will be part of a feature series leading up to this year's draft on June 22-23 in Dallas.

With the 2018 NHL Draft less than two weeks away (June 22-12 in Dallas, Texas), NHL.com is breaking down the top prospects by position. This installment features right wings. [Keep up-to-date with the Ducks as the 2018 NHL Draft nears.]

By Mike G. Morreale / NHL.com Staff Writer

Brady Tkachuk, No. 2 in NHL Central Scouting's final list of North American skaters eligible for the 2018 NHL Draft, has a good chance at becoming the highest-drafted NHL player born in St. Louis.

Hockey Hall of Fame center Pat LaFontaine was chosen No. 3 by the New York Islanders in the 1983 NHL Draft. LaFontaine was born in St. Louis on Feb. 22, 1965 before his family moved to Michigan seven years later.

Tkachuk is not only the best left wing available in the 2018 draft, but the best American-born player. He excels in many areas and has a knack for coming up big in tough spots. University of Minnesota coach Bob Motzko, who coached the 2018 United States National Junior Team for which Tkachuk played a significant role, said he is the type of player you notice every shift.

"He's one of those guys who plays with tremendous energy," Motzko said. "He wants to put a footprint in that game and make an impact in it. That's the way you want your players to play hockey."

Here are NHL.com's top 10 left wings available for the 2018 draft:

With the 2018 NHL Draft less than two weeks away (June 22-12 in Dallas, Texas), NHL.com is breaking down the top prospects by position. This installment features right wings. [Keep up-to-date with the Ducks as the 2018 NHL Draft nears.]

By Mike G. Morreale / NHL.com Staff Writer

Not since 2000 have two players listed at right wing by NHL Central Scouting been chosen among the top three selections in the NHL Draft.

That could change at the 2018 NHL Draft because of the high number of prospects at the position. In 2000, Dany Heatley of the University of Wisconsin went No. 2 to the Atlanta Thrashers, and Marian Gaborik of Dukla Trencin in Slovakia went No. 3 to the Minnesota Wild.

Heatley and Gaborik were two of six players listed at right wing among the 30 picks in the first round.

Here are NHL.com's top 10 right wings available for the 2018 draft:

With the 2018 NHL Draft less than two weeks away (June 22-12 in Dallas, Texas), NHL.com is breaking down the top prospects by position. Today's installment features goaltenders. [Keep up to date with the Ducks as the 2018 NHL Draft nears.]

By Mike G. Morreale / NHL.com Staff Writer

The development of any young goaltender is a hard and arduous process, but one that can be extremely rewarding with patience and persistence in the early stages of a career.

Although there may not be a goalie chosen in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft, organizations do have some decisions to make beginning late in the second round on whether the time is right to begin nurturing a prospect at the position.

"The position of goalie is the toughest position to play and the 2018 draft continues a trend where there are very few goaltenders to consider as top selections for the draft due to the fact they require a longer development path with projection," said Dan Marr, Director of NHL Central Scouting. "The focus is on the natural abilities and techniques they possess; mental and physical assets are also emphasized. Many draft eligible goaltenders are the youngest on the team and most are not the starters, so it's a challenge to catch them in game action and it's mentally tough on the goaltender knowing he needs to play well to get another start."

Here are NHL.com's top 10 goaltenders available for the 2018 draft:

The Ducks currently hold seven selections in the upcoming 2018 NHL Draft (June 22-23 in Dallas, Texas), including the 23rd overall and 54th overall picks. Here is a look at Anaheim's first- and second-round draft selections over the last four years beginning with 2017 second-round picks Max Comtois and Antoine Morand.

The Ducks currently hold the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft (June 22-23 in Dallas). Below is a list of all first-round selections of the Ducks dating to their inaugural 1993-94 season.